TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, March 5. Uzbekistan Railways and Uzmetkombinat (a leading enterprise of ferrous metallurgy in Uzbekistan) have agreed on mutual import substitution as part of their efforts to enhance industrial cooperation, Trend reports.
The news follows a meeting between Uzbek Railways' First Deputy Chairman of the Board Khikmatulla Rakhmetov, Chief Engineer Sharafiddin Kadyrov, and Uzmetkombinat's General Director Dilshod Akhmedov, where the parties discussed strengthening cooperation and localization of production.
Certain products previously imported by Uzmetkombinat will now be produced at the Foundry and Mechanical Plant, as well as at the Andijan Mechanical Plant. At the same time, Uzbek Railways and its subsidiaries, in particular track maintenance, will begin sourcing some imported products from Uzmetkombinat.
The sides emphasized that this step will not only reduce reliance on foreign suppliers but also create new opportunities for local industry development. Both companies plot to sign a series of agreements to formalize their cooperation soon.
The Foundry and Mechanical Plant in Tashkent, covering an area of more than 40 ha, previously operated below full capacity and had low profitability. As a result, it was transferred under the management of Uzbekistan Railways and modernized in 2013.